首页 >出版文学> Travels and Researches in South Africa>第69章
  Thisgentlemanhadnowafineestate,whichbutafewyearsagowasaforest,andcosthimonly16PoundsHehadplantedabout900coffee-treesuponit,andasthesebegintoyieldinthreeyearsfrombeingplanted,andinsixattaintheirmaximum,Ihavenodoubtbutthaterenowhis16PoundsyieldshimsixtyfoldAllsortsoffruit-treesandgrape-vinesyieldtheirfruittwiceineachyear,withoutanylabororirrigationbeingbestowedonthemAllgrainsandvegetables,ifonlysown,dothesame;
  andifadvantageistakenofthemistsofwinter,eventhreecropsofpulsemayberaisedCottonwasnowstandinginthepodsinhisfields,andhedidnotseemtocareaboutitIunderstoodhimtosaythatthislastplantflourishes,butthewetofoneofthetworainyseasonswithwhichthiscountryisfavoredsometimesprovestroublesometothegrower。
  Iamnotawarewhetherwheathaseverbeentried,butIsawbothfigsandgrapesbearingwellThegreatcomplaintofallcultivatorsisthewantofagoodroadtocarrytheirproducetomarket。
  Hereallkindsoffoodareremarkablycheap。
  Fartheronweleftthemountainouscountry,and,aswedescendedtowardthewestcoast,sawthelandsassumingamoresterile,uninvitingaspect。
  OnourrightrantheRiverSenza,whichnearertheseatakesthenameofBengoItisaboutfiftyyardsbroad,andnavigableforcanoes。
  Thelowplainsadjacenttoitsbanksareprotectedfrominundationbyembankments,andthepopulationisentirelyoccupiedinraisingfoodandfruitsforexportationtoLoandabymeansofcanoes。
  ThebanksareinfestedbymyriadsofthemostferociousmosquitoesIevermet。
  NotoneofourpartycouldgetasnatchofsleepIwastakenintothehouseofaPortuguese,butwassoongladtomakemyescapeandlieacrossthepathontheleesideofthefire,wherethesmokeblewovermybodyMyhostwonderedatmywantoftaste,andIathiswantoffeeling;for,toourastonishment,heandtheotherinhabitantshadactuallybecomeusedtowhatwasatleastequaltoanailthroughtheheelofone’sboot,orthetooth-ache。
  Aswewerenowdrawingneartothesea,mycompanionswerelookingateverythinginaseriouslightOneofthemaskedmeifweshouldallhaveanopportunityofwatchingeachotheratLoanda。
  “Supposeonewentforwater,wouldtheothersseeifhewerekidnapped?”
  Ireplied,“Iseewhatyouaredrivingat;andifyoususpectme,youmayreturn,forIamasignorantofLoandaasyouare;
  butnothingwillhappentoyoubutwhathappenstomyself。
  Wehavestoodbyeachotherhitherto,andwilldosotothelast。”
  TheplainsadjacenttoLoandaaresomewhatelevatedandcomparativelysterile。
  Oncomingacrossthesewefirstbeheldthesea:mycompanionslookedupontheboundlessoceanwithaweOndescribingtheirfeelingsafterward,theyremarkedthat“wemarchedalongwithourfather,believingthatwhattheancientshadalwaystolduswastrue,thattheworldhasnoend;butallatoncetheworldsaidtous,`Iamfinished;thereisnomoreofme!’“Theyhadalwaysimaginedthattheworldwasoneextendedplainwithoutlimit。
  Theywerenowsomewhatapprehensiveofsufferingwant,andIwasunabletoallaytheirfearswithanypromiseofsupply,formyownmindwasdepressedbydiseaseandcareThefeverhadinducedastateofchronicdysentery,sotroublesomethatIcouldnotremainontheoxmorethantenminutesatatime;andaswecamedownthedeclivityabovethecityofLoandaonthe31stofMay,Iwaslaboringundergreatdepressionofspirits,asIunderstoodthat,inapopulationoftwelvethousandsouls,therewasbutonegenuineEnglishgentlemanInaturallyfeltanxioustoknowwhetherhewerepossessedofgood-nature,orwasoneofthosecrustymortalsonewouldrathernotmeetatall。
  Thisgentleman,MrGabriel,ourcommissionerforthesuppressionoftheslave-trade,hadkindlyforwardedaninvitationtomeetmeonthewayfromCassange,but,unfortunately,itcrossedmeontheroad。
  Whenweenteredhisporch,Iwasdelightedtoseeanumberofflowerscultivatedcarefully,andinferredfromthiscircumstancethathewas,whatIsoondiscoveredhimtobe,arealwhole-heartedEnglishman。
  Seeingmeill,hebenevolentlyofferedmehisbedNevershallIforgettheluxuriouspleasureIenjoyedinfeelingmyselfagainonagoodEnglishcouch,aftersixmonths’sleepingontheground。
  Iwassoonasleep;andMrGabriel,cominginalmostimmediately,rejoicedatthesoundnessofmyrepose。
  Chapter20。
  ContinuedSicknessKindnessoftheBishopofAngolaandherMajesty’sOfficersMrGabriel’sunweariedHospitality
  SeriousDeportmentoftheMakololoTheyvisitShipsofWar
  PolitenessoftheOfficersandMenTheMakololoattendMassintheCathedralTheirRemarksFindEmploymentincollectingFirewoodandunloadingCoalTheirsuperiorJudgmentrespectingGoodsBeneficialInfluenceoftheBishopofAngola
  TheCityofStPauldeLoandaTheHarborCustom-house
  NoEnglishMerchantsSincerityofthePortugueseGovernmentinsuppressingtheSlave-tradeConvictSoldiers
  PresentsfromBishopandMerchantsforSekeletuOutfitLeaveLoanda20thSeptember,1854AccompaniedbyMrGabrielasfarasIcolloiBengoSugarManufactoryGeologyofthispartoftheCountry
  WomenspinningCottonItsPriceNativeWeaversMarket-places
  Cazengo;itsCoffeePlantationsSouthAmericanTrees
  RuinsofIronFoundryNativeMinersTheBanksoftheLucalla
  CottageswithStagesTobacco-plantsTownofMassangano
  SugarandRiceSuperiorDistrictforCottonPortugueseMerchantsandforeignEnterpriseRuinsTheFortanditsancientGuns
  FormerImportanceofMassanganoFiresTheTribeKisama
  PeculiarVarietyofDomesticFowlCoffeePlantations
  ReturntoGolungoAltoSelf-complacencyoftheMakololo
  FeverJaundiceInsanity。
  InthehopethatashortenjoymentofMrGabriel’sgeneroushospitalitywouldrestoremetomywontedvigor,Icontinuedunderhisroof;
  butmycomplainthavingbeencausedbylongexposuretomalariousinfluences,Ibecamemuchmorereducedthanever,evenwhileenjoyingrest。
  SeveralPortuguesegentlemencalledonmeshortlyaftermyarrival;
  andtheBishopofAngola,theRightReverendJoaquimMoreiraReis,thentheactinggovernoroftheprovince,senthissecretarytodothesame,andlikewisetooffertheservicesofthegovernmentphysician。
  Someofhermajesty’scruiserssooncameintotheport,and,seeingtheemaciatedconditiontowhichIwasreduced,offeredtoconveymetoStHelenaorhomeward;but,thoughIhadreachedthecoast,Ihadfoundthat,inconsequenceofthegreatamountofforest,rivers,andmarsh,therewasnopossibilityofahighwayforwagons,andIhadbroughtapartyofSekeletu’speoplewithme,andfoundthetribesnearthePortuguesesettlementsoveryunfriendly,thatitwouldbealtogetherimpossibleformymentoreturnalone。
  Ithereforeresolvedtodeclinethetemptingoffersofmynavalfriends,andtakebackmyMakololocompanionstotheirchief,withaviewoftryingtomakeapathfromhiscountrytotheeastcoastbymeansofthegreatriverZambesiorLeeambye。
  I,however,gladlyavailedmyselfofthemedicalassistanceofMrCockin,thesurgeonofthe“Polyphemus“,atthesuggestionofhiscommander,CaptainPhillipsMrCockin’streatment,aidedbytheexhilaratingpresenceofthewarm-heartednavalofficers,andMrGabriel’sunweariedhospitalityandcare,soonbroughtmeroundagainOnthe14thIwassofarwellastocallonthebishop,incompanywithmyparty,whowerearrayedinnewrobesofstripedcottonclothandredcaps,allpresentedtothembyMrGabrielHereceivedus,asheadoftheprovisionalgovernment,inthegrandhallofthepalace。
  HeputmanyintelligentquestionsrespectingtheMakololo,andthengavethemfreepermissiontocometoLoandaasoftenastheypleased。
  ThisinterviewpleasedtheMakololoextremely。
  EveryoneremarkedtheseriousdeportmentoftheMakololoTheyviewedthelargestonehousesandchurchesinthevicinityofthegreatoceanwithawe。
  Ahousewithtwostorieswas,untilnow,beyondtheircomprehension。
  Inexplanationofthisstrangething,Ihadalwaysbeenobligedtousethewordforhut;andashutsareconstructedbythepolesbeingletintotheearth,theynevercouldcomprehendhowthepolesofonehutcouldbefoundedupontheroofofanother,orhowmencouldliveintheupperstory,withtheconicalroofoftheloweroneinthemiddle。
  SomeMakololo,whohadvisitedmylittlehouseatKolobeng,intryingtodescribeittotheircountrymenatLinyanti,said,“Itisnotahut;itisamountainwithseveralcavesinit。”
  CommanderBedingfeldandCaptainSkeneinvitedthemtovisittheirvessels,the“Pluto“and“Philomel“Knowingtheirfears,Itoldthemthatnooneneedgoifheentertainedtheleastsuspicionoffoulplay。
  Nearlythewholepartywent;andwhenondeck,Ipointedtothesailors,andsaid,“Nowtheseareallmycountrymen,sentbyourqueenforthepurposeofputtingdownthetradeofthosethatbuyandsellblackmen。”
  Theyreplied,“Truly!theyarejustlikeyou!”andalltheirfearsseemedtovanishatonce,fortheywentforwardamongthemen,andthejollytars,actingmuchastheMakololowouldhavedoneinsimilarcircumstances,handedthemashareofthebreadandbeefwhichtheyhadfordinnerThecommanderallowedthemtofireoffacannon;
  and,havingthemostexaltedideasofitspower,theyweregreatlypleasedwhenItoldthem,“Thatiswhattheyputdowntheslave-tradewith。”
  Thesizeofthebrig-of-waramazedthem“Itisnotacanoeatall;
  itisatown!”Thesailors’decktheynamed“theKotla“;
  andthen,asaclimaxtotheirdescriptionofthisgreatark,added,“Andwhatsortofatownisitthatyoumustclimbupintowitharope?”
  TheeffectofthepolitenessoftheofficersandmenontheirmindswasmostbeneficialTheyhadbehavedwiththegreatestkindnesstomeallthewayfromLinyanti,andInowroserapidlyintheirestimation;
  for,whatevertheymayhavesurmisedbefore,theynowsawthatIwasrespectedamongmyowncountrymen,andalwaysafterwardtreatedmewiththegreatestdeference。
  Onthe15ththerewasaprocessionandserviceofthemassintheCathedral;
  and,wishingtoshowmymenaplaceofworship,Itookthemtothechurch,whichnowservesasthechiefoneoftheseeofAngolaandCongo。
  ThereisanimpressiononsomemindsthatagorgeousritualisbettercalculatedtoinspiredevotionalfeelingsthanthesimpleformsoftheProtestantworshipButherethefrequentgenuflexions,changingofpositions,burningofincense,withthepriests’backturnedtothepeople,thelaughing,talking,andmanifestirreverenceofthesingers,withfiringofguns,etc。,didnotconveytothemindsofmymentheideaofadorationIoverheardthem,intalkingtoeachother,remarkthat“theyhadseenthewhitemencharmingtheirdemons;“
  aphraseidenticalwithonetheyhadusedwhenseeingtheBalondabeatingdrumsbeforetheiridols。
  InthebeginningofAugustIsufferedasevererelapse,whichreducedmetoamereskeletonIwasthenunabletoattendtomymenforaconsiderabletime;butwheninconvalescencefromthislastattack,IwasthankfultofindthatIwasfreefromthatlassitudewhich,inmyfirstrecovery,showedthecontinuanceofthemalariainthesystem。
  Ifoundthatmymen,withoutprompting,hadestablishedabrisktradeinfire-woodTheysalliedforthatcock-crowinginthemornings,andbydaylightreachedtheuncultivatedpartsoftheadjacentcountry,collectedabundleoffire-wood,andreturnedtothecity。
  Itwasthendividedintosmallerfagots,andsoldtotheinhabitants;
  andastheygavelargerquantitiesthantheregularwood-carriers,theyfoundnodifficultyinsellingAshipfreightedwithcoalforthecruisershavingarrivedfromEngland,MrGabrielprocuredthememploymentinunloadingheratsixpenceadayTheycontinuedatthisworkforupwardofamonth,andnothingcouldexceedtheirastonishmentatthevastamountofcargooneshipcontainedAstheythemselvesalwaysafterwardexpressedit,theyhadlaboredeverydayfromsunrisetosunsetforamoonandahalf,unloading,asquicklyastheycould,“stonesthatburn“,andweretiredout,stillleavingplentyinherWiththemoneysoobtainedtheypurchasedclothing,beads,andotherarticlestotakebacktotheirowncountry。
  TheirideasofthevalueofdifferentkindsofgoodsratherastonishedthosewhohaddealtonlywithnativesonthecoastHearingitstatedwithconfidencethattheAfricanspreferredthethinnestfabrics,providedtheyhadgaudycolorsandalargeextentofsurface,theideawassonewtomyexperienceintheinteriorthatIdissented,and,inordertoshowthesuperiorgoodsenseoftheMakololo,tookthemtotheshopofMrSchutWhenheshowedthemtheamountofgeneralgoodswhichtheymightprocureatLoandaforasingletusk,Irequestedthem,withoutassigninganyreason,topointoutthefabricstheyprizedmostTheyallatonceselectedthestrongestpiecesofEnglishcalicoandothercloths,showingthattheyhadregardtostrengthwithoutreferencetocolor。